Detachable clip



July 2s, 1959 E MULVENNA l 2,896,810

DETACHABLE CLIP Filed March 5, -1956 ll/v vs/vrp imm Mul vsn/NAArray/vn: 4 /w-y//M/ DETACHABLE CLIP Elmer Mulvenna, Mount Pleasant,"Ontario, Canada, assignor to S. C. Johnson & Son, Racine, Wis.

Application March 5, 1956, Serial No. 569,413

Claims priority, application Canada August 26, 1955 3 Claims. (Cl.Z2023.4)

This invention relates to a demountable clip for at- Jcaching aplurality of containers together and more particularly relates to ademountable clip for use in conjunction with a container having a spoutand cap which may be readily assembled with the container so as toenable the simultaneous handling with the container of appendantmerchandise.

Frequently in the displaying, storing and selling of goods, it isdesirable to arrange for separately packaged materials to be handledtogether as a unit. This is advantageous in the sale and use ofdifferent materials which have been separately packaged, but which havebeen designed -for use in conjunction with one another.`

In other cases, although the different materials may have fairlydistinct uses, for purposes of sale or merchandis ing, a manufacturermay wish to arrange for several of his products to be sold together. Instill other cases, it is sometimes desired that a gift or premiumaccompany the sale of a major item, for such purposes as introducing anew product on the market.

In the packaging of dilferent goods held in separate containers forsimultaneous handling, a device must be provided for attaching theseveral containers together. In order to be entirely satisfactory, thisdevice should be cheap to manufacture, easily assembled, and be able towithstand the normal handling to which the goods are subjected whilethey are being readied for sale. In addition, particularly with theadvent of the modern super market, the device should be designed 'sothat a reasonable amount of protection is afforded against pilfering,particularly in those cases where a small, easily concealed item isbeing sold together with a larger item.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a novel devicefor attaching separately packaged goods together for simultaneoushandling.

It is another object of this invention to provide a de- Vice of thecharacter described for use with containers having a spout and cap whichmay be readily assembled, has a reasonable degree of strength, yet whichis easily and economically manufactured.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel attaching devicefor separately packaged goods which affords protection againstpilfering.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the presentinvention, various novel features of which will become apparent as thefollowing specification is .read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings `wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of the detachable clip of thisinvention, showing the clip holding an appendant tube and mounted on acan having a spout and cap; and

tFig. 2 is a perspective view of the clip showing how itmay be assembledwith a typical container having a spbut and cap.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a speciiic embodiment of the clip of thisinvention is shown in conjunction with a conventional container, such asmay be used for the storage of iluids and indicated generally at 10.This 2,896,231() Patented July 28, .1959

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container has a substantially rectangular body portion 11 including aperipheral side wall 12, a substantially flat upper end 13, and avertical flange 14 where the side wall 12 and the upper end wall 13 arefastened in fluid tight relationship. Projecting from the upper end wall13 from an intermediate point thereon is a threaded pouring spout 16communicating with the interior of the body portion 11, the outerperiphery of the pouring spout 16 being of a diminished size as comparedto the outer periphery of the upper end wall 13. An enveloping cap 17,detachably secured to the pouring spout 16 by means of threaded portion18, is provided to close the pouring spout 16.

As can best be seen in Fig. 2, the detachable clip of this inventioncomprises, in general, an attaching portion 19 having an opening 21therein adapted to be placed about the pouring spout 16 and rest whenassembled on upper end wall 13, and a bracket portion 22 for holdingappendant merchandise. The clip is made from a flexible sheet, composedof plastic, metal, or such other material as will impart to the clip alimited amount of tiexibility and resiliency, yet which resists extremebending and tearing.

The attaching portion 19 comprises a deformable, arcuate blade portion23 positionable against the' upper wall 13 when the clip is assembledwith the container, and a locking means consisting of a pair of curvedguides 24 adapted to fit snugly about the vertical flange 14 when theclip is in this assembled position. Since the arcuate blade portion 23is exible, tightening of the cap 17 about the pouring spout forces thearcuate blade firmly against the upper wall of the container deforrnngthe blade portion somewhat and ixing the clip tightly in position. Thecurved guides 24 serve to positively lock the clip from any rotationaldisplacement about the pouring spout 16 when the clip is assembled withthe container 10.

Referring again to Fig. 2, the bracket portion 22 comprises, in general,a U-shaped retainer 26 projecting outwardly from the container 10 whenthe clip is in an assembled position. The retainer 26 includes an upperface 27, and a lower face 28 having therein an openended receiving slot29.l The free end of upper face 27, which is adjacent the container 10when the clip is assembled with the container, tends to converge towardthe lower face 28. Slot 29 has its open end facing the container whenthe clip is in this assembled position.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the retainer 26 is adapted tosecurely hold auxiliary packages having an enlarged end portion togetherwith a constricted portion projecting therefrom. In Fig. 1, thisauxiliary package is shown as a conventional tube having an enlarged cap31 fastened to the constricted throat 32 of a tube 33. It should beappreciated that the retainer 26 may be easily modified so as to holdother types of auxiliary packages, such as bottles, cans, and the like.When the auxiliary package, such as tube 33, is inserted within slot 29,the upper face 27 of the retainer is deformed slightly, exerting adownward thrust on tube cap 31 and assisting in positioning the tube 33.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the detachable clip of thisinvention is of simple construction and may be economically built, yetit alfords a means for securely holding two separately packaged articlestogether. Since the bracket portion 22 is juxtapositoned to the bodyportion 11 of the container placing the open end of slot 29 adjacent thebody portion 10, auxiliary packages, such as tube 33 cannot be removedonce the clip is assembled. For this reason the clip of this inventionoffers a simple, yet effective guard against pilfering of the tube.However, the tube may be readily removed once the cap 17 is removed fromthe pouring spou`t 16 by lifting the clip and the attaching portion 19from olf the 'upper 'wall 13 and pouring spout 16. Should it be desiredto reassemble 'the container and tube for storage after use, it is asimple matter to insert theV clip over the pouring spout and tighten upthe cap 16V. The upper face 27offthe retainer 26, since it abuts tubecap 31 and "exerts a downward thrust thereon, forms a deformable'clamping means and serves to hold the tube rinl'y in the retainer 256.

While there are above described only a few embodimentsof this invention,it should be understood that it is n ot intended to be restrictedthereto, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations beimposed on the appended claims as are stated therein or required bytheprior artl 'It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination (1) a container vhaving a body portion 'co'.mprising`ya side Wall an'd'twoV end walls ea'ch intersectingsaid side wall, apouring spout attached to one of said end'walls having at its juncture across sectional area less "than that of said end wall and an envelopingcap detachably secured to said pouring spout, (2) an auxiliary packagehaving a constricted portion adjacent one end of said package, and (3) ademountable clip attaching said auxiliary package to said container,said clip comprising an attaching portion positioned about said spoutandretained by said cap and end wall, and a bracket portion extendingoutwardly from said body portion, said bracket portion having a'retaining means including a receiving slot opened toward said bodyportion of said container and engaging said constricted portion of saidauxiliary package and a deformable clamping means abutting said one endofthe auxiliary package adjacent its constricted portion, thisconstruction of said bracket portion of said clip preventing the removalof said auxiliary package .from .saidcontainer when so assembled.

2Q In combination (l) a container having a body portion comprising Vaside wall and two end walls each intersecting said side wall and avertical flange at one end of said body portion, a pouring spoutattached to the'same endof said body portion as vsaid vertical flange,said spout ha'ving at its juncture a cross sectional area less than thecontainer end lto which the Vspout is attached, and an envelopingcapdetachably securedto said pouring spout, (2) an auxiliary packagehaving a constricted portion adjacent one end of said package, and (3) ademountable clip attaching said auxiliary Apackage to said container,said `c'lipcomprising an attaching portion positioned about said spoutand retained by said cap and end wall, and a bracket portion 'extendingoutwardly from said body 'portion, said bracket portion having a lockingmeans engaged with said vertical flange to restrain said clip fromrotation about said spout, and a retaining means including a receivingslot opened toward said body portion of said container and engaging'said constricted portion of said auxiliary package so as to preventremoval of said auxiliary package, and a deformable clamping meansabutting said one end adjacent the constricted portion -of saidauxiliary package.

3. In combination (1) a container having a body portion comprising aside wall and two end walls each intersecting said sidewall andavertical 'flange at one end of said body portion, a pouring spoutattached to the same end of said body portion as said vertical ilange,said spout having at its juncture a cross sectional area less than thecontainer end to which the spout is attached, and an enveloping capdetachably secured to said pouring spout, (2) an auxiliary packagehaving a constricted .portion adjacent one end of said package, and (3)a .demountable clip attaching said auxiliary package to said container,said clip comprising an attaching portion including a deformable arcuateportion having an .opening therein receiving said spout, said yattachingportion being clamped against said end wall by said cap, and a bracketportion extending outwardly from said body `portion,.said bracketportion having a vlocking means engaged with said `vertical ilange torestrain said clip from rotation about said spout, and a retaining means`including a re# ceiving slot opened toward Vsaid body portion of saidcontainer assembled with said auxiliary package about said constrictedportion, and a deformable clamping means abutting said one end adjacentthe constricted portion of Y said auxiliary package.

References Cited in the rle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 852,858ASteinhardt May 7, 1907 882,636 Hopkins Mar; 24, 1908 2,059,049 SmithOct. 27, 1936 2,211,340 Mehrkens Aug. 13, 1940 2,238,856 Churchill Apr.15, V1941 2,250,666 Godefroy July 29, 1941 2,340,719 Walter Feb. 1, 19442,423,145 Halm July 1, 1947 '2,653,616 Selgas 1 Sept. 29, 1953

